Every girl wishes in her childhood to drape a saree like her mom. Kids are awed with the fact how nice their mothers look in a crispy,fresh saree. So they just want to look as beautiful as their mothers. Also it's a sign of being a "grown up" according to them. I got this idea from questioning many kids while doing some study on child psychology. Boys often try to wear dad's shirts or try to get into dad's shoes.....the bigger size of the dress fills them with a sense of being an "adult". That means freedom,that means power. All desires to be fulfilled,all dreams to come true. Girls,when they are playful,either try to drape a saree exactly like their moms,or they try to put on make up,not necessarily with the real make up item always! It's all about feeling good,feeling beautiful,feeling grown-up.
I have few stories to share about draping a saree. The first one involves myself,being in kindergarten. During Saraswati Puja, young girls in Bengal wear kid-size yellow bordered red sarees especially designed for this festival. That year,dad bought one for me. Mom draped it around me,fixing with so many pins and broaches. I felt happy throughout the day,along with my little friends wearing same kind of sarees. After some days,I felt like wearing that saree again,so requested mom to drape it. She did,and I went to accompany my aunt who was going to local market. When we were passing from the fish market area,the stench became unbearable for me. I,happily took our the "Pallu" and covered my nose, unaware about the pleats. Soon after we finished shopping and came back home,mom discovered in horror,the pleats got soiled in the mud from fish market and stank very badly. She took off the saree for washing in which the color and all designs bled off! That was the end of my saree dream,as full size sarees were too big for me at that time!
The second one involves my sister Jerry. She just loved to drape saree from the age of one. Aunty used to drape her dupatta around the kid pretending as saree...and Jerry was quite happy with that fact. She used to sit on a small chair placing her doll on her lap,and used to pat it similarly like her mom uses to make her sleep! We used to enjoy the fact...I have taken several pictures of her while doing so. But a steady change was observed when she was growing up. She started preferring jeans and short skits,avoiding salwar kameez and frocks. she despised saree the most..........she started avoiding school functions as that involved draping saree. Now often we joke that she completed her "quota" for wearing saree in this life while being a kid........so she wears saree no more!
The third and last incident involves me again. I used to drape saree in traditional Bengali style from my high school days,as in hostel draping saree was compulsory. Now,when I grew up and needed wearing saree in College and family programs,I discovered that I can't drape it in normal Indian way. Mom used to help when she was around,but in hostel,I had to take help from friends to do so. Finally when I was taking the course in VLCC,I learned to drape it in different styles. My hubby didn't know about this transformation,he always considered me as a tomboy. He never expected me to drape a saree. So during our marriage when I got many sarees he was worried about what to do with those. To surprise him,one day I draped one while going out with him. First he was shocked,then surprised,them said the most bizarre dialogue I heard from him," Sorry behenji,Sonu is busy getting ready,we are going out.Do you mind coming in the evening?" Gosh! It seems he didn't look at my face at all,he just saw the saree and thought me somebody else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It earned him so many pinches and taunts from me,and he treated me with BR ice-cream for draping the saree so perfectly and looking different. The incident is funny indeed!
In every girl,remains a dormant butterfly. It comes out and flashes it's colorful wings once the girl gets ready draping a saree. It's a change from the boredom of regular office wears. In occasions draping a saree adds elegance to a girl's appearance. It earns her appreciation and respect,as well as boosts the self confidence. Sarees should be draped properly with minimum exposure of skin. Girls not familiar with the method,should practice it well in advance before wearing in occasions. The proper accessories add more elegance to saree, like bangles,designed blouses,earrings or clutch bags. Everybody has the right to look beautiful....especially girls :) So ladies in MS,discover your true colors choosing and draping the right saree for you. Happy Saree-draping :)
